📖 Chapter 1326 - Time to Open

16 May, 2024

As soon as this mass of golden tentacles appeared, Wang Baole heard the sound of millions of people swallowing simultaneously. The desire to eat, to taste delicious food – the tongue’s desire – was radiating off of each and every one of them.

Their gazes were all glued to the mass of golden tentacles.

On the altar, the massive lump of fat suddenly smiled – or at least, it seemed to. Not much could really be seen on its fleshy, flabby face. But a small opening appeared, its mouth perhaps, and it inhaled slightly.

As it did so, the desire in the air all around it rushed into its mouth. Normal people couldn’t see nor sense what was going on; after all, desire was an invisible and intangible concept.

However, Wang Baole’s true body was incredibly powerful, so even though he was just a clone, he could still perceive the fatty lump swallowing the desire. He couldn’t help but narrow his eyes.

‘Absorbing the tongue’s desire and cultivating with it… is that the purpose of this festival?’ Wang Baole furrowed his brows in thought. After absorbing the majority of the desire in the air, the fatty lump seemed satisfied and closed its mouth. Then, the eight fat mountains surrounding the altar took their turn.

Next was the teams of colorfully-dressed people behind the fat mountains. After being absorbed by group after group of people, the tongue’s desire in the surroundings was obviously depleted quite a bit. But after a short while, desire swelled again. It seemed that in this place, tongue’s desire was limitless and inexhaustible.

As long as the people in the surroundings continued to hunger, tongue’s desire would continue to gather. However, this second swell of desire didn’t come at zero cost.

Looking carefully, it could be seen that among the millions of people surrounding the altar, most of them had suddenly lost some weight. Moreover, although it was difficult to notice due to their state of frenzy, their spirits had become fatigued.

‘This is a people-eating city!’ Bright light flashed in Wang Baole’s eyes. At the same time, as the colorfully-dressed cultivators swallowed their fill, the fatty lump on the altar suddenly waved its hand. The mass of golden tentacles exploded with a bang, causing tentacles to go flying in all directions.

“My people, go and feast.”

The fatty lump’s voice echoed through the whole city, making everyone in the surroundings go completely mad and causing crazed shouts to ring out in response.

“Feast!”

“Feast!!”

“Feast!!!”

As they roared, the millions of people scattered, fighting desperately over any tentacles they could find. The entire city, starting from the altar at the center, was quickly thrust into pandemonium.

Wang Baole looked deeply at the altar. At this moment, the massive lump of fat on the altar was slowly fading away. As for the colorfully-dressed cultivators and the eight fat mountains, they gradually disappeared from the crowd.

‘Although this city is crazy, it’s very suitable for me to hide myself.’ Pondering among the crowd, Wang Baole thought to himself that this would be a good place for him to get used to this world.

Tongue’s Desire City seemed chaotic, but there was an order hidden in the chaos that made Wang Baole think of settling down here. After all, the other cities were too far away, and he didn’t know whether they would be any better than this place.

Thus, he decided to hide here in Tongue’s Desire City for the time being.

‘In that case, the first thing I need to do is solve the issue of residence.’ When Wang Baole had followed the crowd along the main road earlier, he had noticed many shops in the city. Although most of these shops were restaurants, they also provided accommodations.

In that case, as long as he had enough of the local currency and he completed missions to extend the time on his entry token, everything would work out perfectly.

And when it came to currency… although there were spirit stones in circulation, it was obvious that the golden tentacles flying through the sky were more valuable.

Thinking to this point, Wang Baole’s body flickered and disappeared on the spot. When he reappeared, he was in a remote street corner. He grabbed a passing golden tentacle with a swipe of his hand, then continued to move after putting it in his storage pouch.

These golden tentacles were difficult for most people to catch, but Wang Baole quickly acquired several hundred.

At the same time, he bore witness to the madness of humanity inside the city.

Killing someone for a golden tentacle was par for the course. There were even times when he saw seven or eight emaciated figures all dying together after a scuffle.

It seemed that the whole city was under the law of the jungle. Gradually, the smell of blood filled the city, making the people inside go even more mad and staining the remaining tentacles red.

These blood-soaked tentacles were rather unsightly, and Wang Baole didn’t want to take them. Nevertheless, a bloody tentacle suddenly flew at Wang Baole of its own initiative as he was walking along a street.

Dozens of skinny cultivators were chasing the tentacle, eyes red with killing intent. Following after the tentacle, they charged straight toward Wang Baole.

Among these people, there were three cultivators in the Nascent Soul Realm. As they approached, Wang Baole’s eyes flickered with cold light, and he was about to take action. But before he could attack, a pale hand suddenly reached out from the door of a nearby shop and grabbed the bloody tentacle.

The shop door slowly opened, revealing a little fatty standing in the doorway. Taking a bite out of the bloody tentacle he’d caught, he chewed while staring at the people in front of him.

“You all, are you looking for accommodations or looking for a meal?” After swallowing the bloody tentacle, the little fatty grinned.

Those who had come after the bloody tentacles suddenly stopped in their steps. Looking at the little fatty, their eyes filled with fear, and they retreated in silence.

“Sir, how about you? Looking for accommodations, or for a meal?” The little fatty ignored those who had left and looked at Wang Baole, a concealed glimmer flashing through the depths of his eyes.

Wang Baole glanced at the little fatty and turned to leave. But a moment later, the little fatty suddenly appeared in his way, still smiling, and continued to speak.

“Sir, you’ve already come to our door. Why don’t you come in and have a bite? Our food is the best on this street.”

As he spoke, the door of the shop opened wider. No light shone inside; it was pitch black. Wang Baole thought he could hear suppressed panting, as if the inside of the door was a giant mouth waiting for food to walk in.

“Must I go?” Tilting his head, Wang Baole asked.

The little fatty nodded, and the gleam in his eye could no longer be concealed. At the same time, everyone passing by hurriedly moved away from the shop.

“What if I don’t go?” Wang Baole asked curiously.

“I would be ever so disappointed.” The little fatty said. The smile on his face didn’t falter in the slightest.

“Very well then.” Wang Baole nodded. Since he had been invited so sincerely, it would be rude to refuse. Turning back around, he walked over to the door.

“Alright guys, time to open for business!” Shouting toward the inside of the shop, the smile on the little fatty’s face grew even wider as he followed Wang Baole toward the door.

In the crowd outside, there were some people who had come for the festival like Wang Baole. When they saw him walking into the shop, their expressions became complicated. After all, on the day of the Gluttony Festival, the greatest danger didn’t come from the Desire Lord or the procession, nor did it come from the fights over the golden tentacles. Instead, it came from… the shops in the city.

On normal days, the people walking into these shops were customers.

But when the Gluttony Festival came around, those walking into the shops… were ingredients.

Wang Baole walked toward the door with his back to the crowd. No one noticed that there was a faint smile on his face, nor could they see that his eyes were flickering with a bloody light…

Of course, the little fatty had no idea… what kind of existence he’d just invited into his shop.

“Time to open…” Smiling, Wang Baole stepped into the dark threshold.